Introduction

Kamen Rider OOO, also known as Kamen Rider 000, is a Japanese tokusatsu drama that aired from 2010 to 2011 as part of the Kamen Rider Series. It is the twelfth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-fifth overall. The series follows Eiji Hino, a young man who becomes Kamen Rider OOO, a hero who can transform using different combinations of medals that represent animal powers. He battles against the Greeed, ancient beings who feed on human desires, and their monsters called Yummies.

In this article, we will explore what Kamen Rider OOO is, what its plot and characters are, what its theme song and music are, and how it was received by critics and fans.

What is Kamen Rider OOO?

Kamen Rider OOO is a tokusatsu drama, which is a genre of live-action television or film that uses special effects to depict science fiction or fantasy themes. Tokusatsu is often associated with superheroes, giant monsters, or mecha (robots). Kamen Rider is one of the most popular and long-running tokusatsu franchises in Japan, dating back to 1971. It features masked heroes who ride motorcycles and fight evil organizations or creatures using various gadgets and weapons.

Kamen Rider OOO is part of the Heisei period run of Kamen Rider, which refers to the series that were produced during the reign of Emperor Akihito from 1989 to 2019. The Heisei period run is divided into two phases: Phase 1 (from 2000 to 2009) and Phase 2 (from 2009 to 2019). Kamen Rider OOO belongs to Phase 2, which is characterized by having more complex storylines, darker themes, multiple riders, crossover movies, and collectible devices.

Kamen Rider OOO was produced by Toei Company, a major Japanese film and television company that also produces other tokusatsu franchises such as Super Sentai (which is adapted into Power Rangers in the West) and Ultraman. The series was written by Yasuko Kobayashi, who also wrote for other Kamen Rider series such as Den-O, Decade, Amazons, and Zero-One. The series was directed by Ryuta Tasaki, who also directed for other Kamen Rider series such as Agito, Ryuki, Blade, Hibiki, Kabuto, Den-O, Decade, W, Fourze, Wizard, Gaim, Drive, Ghost, Ex-Aid, Build, Zi-O, Saber, Revice.

Plot summary

Main arc

The main arc of Kamen Rider OOO follows Eiji Hino, a traveling man who has no place to call home and a tragic past. When coin-based homunculi known as the Greeed awaken after their 800-year slumber to

Movie and specials

Kamen Rider OOO has been featured in several movies and specials that are either part of the series continuity or crossover with other Kamen Rider series. Some of them are:

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core: A 2010 movie that is divided into three segments: the first one focuses on Kamen Rider Skull from Kamen Rider W, the second one focuses on Kamen Rider OOO, and the third one is a crossover between OOO and W. The movie introduces a new enemy called Kamen Rider Core, who is composed of the Core Medals that were the source of the Greeed’s creation.
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let’s Go Kamen Riders: A 2011 movie that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series. It features OOO teaming up with Kamen Rider Den-O and other past Kamen Riders to stop a time-traveling plot by Shocker, an evil organization that has been the enemy of Kamen Riders since the first series.
Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals: A 2011 movie that is set after the end of the series. It features OOO traveling back to the Edo period, where he meets Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of Japan, and battles against a new Greeed called Gara, who has created his own Core Medals.
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max: A 2011 movie that is divided into four segments: the first one focuses on Kamen Rider Fourze, the second one focuses on Kamen Rider OOO, the third one is a crossover between Fourze and OOO, and the fourth one is a crossover between all Heisei-era Kamen Riders. The movie introduces a new enemy called Kamen Rider Poseidon, who is from 40 years in the future and uses Core Medals to transform.
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen: A 2012 movie that is a crossover between the Kamen Rider Series and the Super Sentai Series, two of the most popular tokusatsu franchises in Japan. It features OOO and other Kamen Riders joining forces with Super Sentai teams to stop a war between their two worlds.
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum: A 2012 movie that is divided into three segments: the first one focuses on Kamen Rider Wizard, the second one focuses on Kamen Rider Fourze, and the third one is a crossover between Wizard, Fourze, and other Heisei-era Kamen Riders. The movie features OOO returning as a supporting character and using a new form called Super Tatoba Combo.
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FINAL: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders: A 2017 movie that is a crossover between Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, and other Heisei-era Kamen Riders. It features OOO returning as a supporting character and using his original forms.

Characters

Kamen Riders

The main protagonists of Kamen Rider OOO are:

Eiji Hino/Kamen Rider OOO: The main character of the series. He is a young man who travels around the world without any attachments or goals. He becomes Kamen Rider OOO after receiving a belt and three Core Medals from Ankh, an arm of the Greeed. He can use different combinations of Medals to transform into various forms with animal powers. His main form is Tatoba Combo, which uses Taka (hawk), Tora (tiger), and Batta (grasshopper) Medals.
Ankh/Kamen Rider Ankh (Lost): The secondary character of the series. He is one of the Greeed, ancient beings who feed on human desires. He was originally a complete being with a bird motif, but he lost his body except for his left arm during a battle 800 years ago. He allies himself with Eiji to recover his Core Medals and regain his body. He can transform into Kamen Rider Ankh (Lost) using his own Medal as a headpiece.
Akira Date/Kamen Rider Birth: The tertiary character of the series. He is a former mercenary who works as a doctor in a war-torn country. He returns to Japan to undergo surgery for a bullet wound in his head, and becomes Kamen Rider Birth, a rider who uses Cell Medals and a device called Birth Buster to fight. He is hired by Kougami Foundation, a mysterious organization that is involved in the Greeed conflict.
Shintaro Goto/Kamen Rider Birth Prototype: The quaternary character of the series. He is a former police officer who works as a bodyguard for Kougami Foundation. He idolizes Date and becomes his partner and successor as Kamen Rider Birth. He uses the same equipment as Date, but with a different color scheme and a device called Birth Driver.
Kamen Rider OOO 10th Anniversary Movie: A movie that is planned to be released in 2021 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Kamen Rider OOO. It will feature the return of the original cast and crew, as well as new characters and forms. The plot is unknown, but it is speculated that it will involve Eiji and Ankh facing a new threat related to the Core Medals.

Greeed and Yummies

The main antagonists of Kamen Rider OOO are:

Greeed: Ancient beings who were created 800 years ago by a king who wished for immortality. They are composed of 10 Core Medals each, which represent their animal motifs and personalities. They feed on human desires and create monsters called Yummies to do their bidding. There are six Greeed in the series: Ankh (bird), Uva (insect), Kazari (feline), Gamel (pachyderm), Mezool (aquatic), and Kyoryu Greeed (dinosaur).
Yummies: Monsters that are created by the Greeed using human hosts who have strong desires. They take the form of various animals or objects, depending on the host’s desire and the Greeed’s motif. They can grow stronger by consuming Cell Medals, which are fragments of Core Medals that are scattered around the world.
Dr. Maki/Kamen Rider Poseidon: A scientist who works for Kougami Foundation and studies the Greeed and the Medals. He is obsessed with the end of everything, and becomes corrupted by a purple Core Medal that belongs to an unknown seventh Greeed. He betrays Kougami Foundation and allies himself with Kazari, then travels to the future where he becomes Kamen Rider Poseidon, a rider who uses three Core Medals from Uva, Kazari, and Mezool.

Other characters

The supporting characters of Kamen Rider OOO are:

Hina Izumi: Eiji’s friend and Ankh’s host. She is a strong-willed girl who has superhuman strength due to being exposed to Ankh’s power. She is the younger sister of Shingo Izumi, a police officer who was attacked by Uva and became Ankh’s original host.
Kousei Kougami: The president of Kougami Foundation, a mysterious organization that is involved in the Greeed conflict. He is a eccentric man who loves making and eating cakes, and has a fascination with desire and evolution. He provides Eiji and Date with equipment and information, but his true motives are unclear.
Erika Satonaka: Kougami’s secretary and Goto’s employer. She is a cold and strict woman who handles the operations of Kougami Foundation. She is skilled in martial arts and firearms, and often assists Goto in battle.
Chiyoko Shiraishi: The owner of Cous Coussier, a restaurant where Eiji, Hina, and Ankh live and work. She is a cheerful and kind woman who treats them like family. She often changes the theme and menu of her restaurant according to her mood.
Akira Kushida: A famous singer who is known for singing theme songs for various tokusatsu shows, including some Kamen Rider series. He appears as himself in several episodes of Kamen Rider OOO, where he helps Eiji and his friends with his songs and advice.

Theme song and music

The theme song of Kamen Rider OOO is “Anything Goes!”, performed by Maki Ohguro, a popular singer-songwriter in Japan. The song is an upbeat rock tune that reflects the theme of desire and evolution in the series.

The theme song of Kamen Rider OOO is composed by tatsuo, a famous musician and producer who has worked with many artists and bands, such as m-flo, EXILE, and AAA. The lyrics are written by Shoko Fujibayashi, a prolific lyricist who has written for many anime and tokusatsu shows, such as Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, and other Kamen Rider series. The song is arranged by Kotaro Nakagawa, a renowned composer and arranger who has scored for many anime and tokusatsu shows, such as Code Geass, s.CRY.ed, and other Kamen Rider series.

The soundtrack of Kamen Rider OOO is also composed by Kotaro Nakagawa, who creates various musical themes and motifs for the characters and situations in the series. The soundtrack features a mix of rock, pop, orchestral, and ethnic elements, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the series. The soundtrack was released in two albums: Kamen Rider OOO Original Soundtrack 1 (released on November 17, 2010) and Kamen Rider OOO Original Soundtrack 2 (released on June 22, 2011).

Reception and legacy

Kamen Rider OOO was well received by critics and fans alike, who praised its story, characters, action, music, and themes. The series was nominated for several awards, such as the Tokyo Anime Award for Best Domestic Feature Film in 2012 for its movie Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals. The series also won the Seiun Award for Best Media of the Year in 2012, which is a prestigious award for science fiction works in Japan.

Kamen Rider OOO also had a lasting impact on the Kamen Rider franchise and culture. The series introduced many new concepts and elements that were later adopted or referenced by other Kamen Rider series, such as multiple riders, crossover movies, collectible devices, and animal motifs. The series also spawned many spin-offs and merchandise, such as novels, manga, video games, toys, clothing, and accessories. The series also inspired many fan works and parodies, such as fan art, fan fiction, cosplay, memes, and videos.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kamen Rider OOO is a Japanese tokusatsu drama that aired from 2010 to 2011 as part of the Kamen Rider Series. It is about Eiji Hino, a young man who becomes Kamen Rider OOO, a hero who can transform using different combinations of medals that represent animal powers. He battles against the Greeed, ancient beings who feed on human desires, and their monsters called Yummies. The series is known for its story, characters, action, music, and themes. The series was well received by critics and fans, and had a lasting impact on the Kamen Rider franchise and culture. The series also had several movies and specials, including a 10th anniversary movie that is planned to be released in 2021.

If you are a fan of Kamen Rider or tokusatsu in general, you might want to check out Kamen Rider OOO and see for yourself why it is one of the most popular and influential series in the history of the genre.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kamen Rider OOO:

How many forms does Kamen Rider OOO have?

Kamen Rider OOO has 48 forms in total, which are based on different combinations of three Core Medals. Each form has a name that is derived from the first syllable of each Medal’s animal name. For example, Tatoba Combo uses Taka (hawk), Tora (tiger), and Batta (grasshopper) Medals, and is named after Ta-To-Ba. Some forms are more commonly used than others, such as Tatoba Combo, Gatakiriba Combo (using Kuwagata (stag beetle), Kamakiri (mantis), and Batta Medals), and Putotyra Combo (using Ptera (pteranodon), Tricera (triceratops), and Tyranno (tyrannosaurus) Medals).

What is the meaning of the phrase “Anything Goes!”?

“Anything Goes!” is the catchphrase and theme song of Kamen Rider OOO. It means that anything is possible, and that one should pursue their desires and dreams without limits or fear. It also reflects the theme of evolution and change in the series, as OOO can use different Medals to transform into various forms with different powers.

Who is the strongest Greeed?

The strongest Greeed is Kyoryu Greeed, who is also known as the King of Greeed. He is the seventh Greeed who was created by the king who wished for immortality 800 years ago. He has a dinosaur motif, and can use all 60 Core Medals to transform into a giant monster called Kyoryu King. He is the final boss of the series, and is defeated by OOO using Putotyra Combo.

Who is the best Kamen Rider in Kamen Rider OOO?

The best Kamen Rider in Kamen Rider OOO is a matter of personal preference and opinion, as each rider has their own strengths and weaknesses, personality and style, and fans and haters. However, some possible candidates are:

Kamen Rider OOO: The main rider of the series, who can use different combinations of Medals to transform into various forms with animal powers. He is a kind-hearted and adventurous hero who fights for justice and peace.
Kamen Rider Ankh (Lost): The secondary rider of the series, who can transform using his own Medal as a headpiece. He is one of the Greeed, ancient beings who feed on human desires. He allies himself with OOO to recover his Core Medals and regain his body. He is a cunning and sarcastic anti-hero who fights for his own survival and freedom.
Kamen Rider Birth: The tertiary rider of the series, who can use Cell Medals and a device called Birth Buster to fight. He is a former mercenary who works as a doctor in a war-torn country. He returns to Japan to undergo surgery for a bullet wound in his head, and becomes Birth to earn money for his operation. He is a cool-headed and professional fighter who fights for his own life and future.
Kamen Rider Birth Prototype: The quaternary rider of the series, who uses the same equipment as Birth, but with a different color scheme and a device called Birth Driver. He is a former police officer who works as a bodyguard for Kougami Foundation. He idolizes Date and becomes his partner and successor as Birth. He is a loyal and brave fighter who fights for his own justice and honor.

Where can I watch or download Kamen Rider OOO?

Kamen Rider OOO is available on various streaming platforms and websites, such as Toei Tokusatsu World Official YouTube Channel, Crunchyroll, Tubi, KissAsian, Jatoku, Dramacool, etc. However, some of these sites may not have official licenses or subtitles, or may have low quality or broken links. Therefore, it is recommended to watch or download Kamen Rider OOO from official or legal sources, such as Toei Tokusatsu World Official YouTube Channel, which offers free and legal streaming of various tokusatsu shows, including Kamen Rider OOO, with English subtitles.

I hope this article has helped you learn more about Kamen Rider OOO and its 10th anniversary movie. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading and have a nice day!

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